Rugby is more than just a mere pastime in South Africa; it is woven into the very fabric of the nation's identity.
Yet, a disquieting trend has emerged in Gauteng, where the once-thrumming atmosphere of rugby derbies is beginning to fade. In a time when enthusiasm should be at a peak especially with the Bulls leading the South African charge and the Lions dishing up some exciting rugby, the stands at some of the region’s most revered stadiums - namely Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld - are increasingly marred by empty seats.
Even during the prestigious United Rugby Championship (URC) and European Champions Cup matches. Consider the recent Jukskei derby in Pretoria: Despite both teams playing some brilliant rugby as they went toe-to-toe in excellent conditions, the stands at Loftus Versfeld were more notable for their open blue seats than their filled ones. Scenes like this are becoming all too common in South Africa’s heartland of rugby passion. Just a month prior, the same teams clashed at Ellis Park, but the stadium, renowned for its electric atmosphere, echoed with disappointment as empty red seats greatly outnumbered fans in attendance.
The same image played out when the Lions beautifully dismantled the Stormers' defence a fortnight ago to record a well-deserved first victory over the Capetonians. This trend raises an urgent question: why are Gauteng’s rugby derbies, once a fierce battleground for local pride, no longer attracting the crowds they so deserve? Do you blame the teams for not being able to fill up Loftus or Ellis Park? Are their supporters just not that interested in watching their teams win or at least put up a fight to win?
In Cape Town and mostly Durban, things play out differently, especially when two local sides clash. People are hungry to watch the two South African sides go up against each other. For the Sharks' clash in Cape Town, just over 46 000 people flocked to the DHL Stadium a few days after Christmas - a time when most people have spent their money on other things.
In the recent North vs South derby, the head count in the Mother City was 47 171. It set a new record for the season, with only the Leinster and Munster Irish derby at Croke Park eclipsing it.In January, the Sharks drew a crowd of 24 762 when they faced Toulouse in Durban in the Champions Cup, while the Cape Town figures for that weekend saw 23 544 people flock to watch the Sale Sharks and their South African players go up against the Stormers.
So, what are the two teams in Gauteng doing wrong? Or are people generally just not that interested in their brand rugby? The Lions and Ellis Park, whose main sponsor is set to leave them, are the main talking. The team plays exciting rugby and continues to fight for a playoff place in the URC. But, the stadium is empty.
They host the Sharks on Saturday, but there could be a small crowd again, hopefully, it's not the case. With the Stormers heading to Loftus, the Bulls will hopefully draw a bigger crowd this weekend for the return North-South derby. If they can't, it will be a big shame for what is arguably the biggest club derby in the world.